He cites numbers crunching from Visit Florida (VF), the state’s tourism marketing arm, “which is somewhat skewed because Canadian snowbirds who own property or rent long-term aren’t technically counted as visitors. Regardless, the VF surveys show that, in 2019, Canada was the No. 1 source (accounting for more than 25%) of the total 44.2million Florida tourists. More than double the No. 2 source, which was the U.K.” It’s why popular and usually jam-packed uniquely snowbird special events such as the Snowbird Extravaganza in Lakeland and CanadaFest in Fort Lauderdale (both cancelled by the pandemic this year) are staged to celebrate Canadian snowbirds enjoying their currently allowed 182 days. And Marco Rubio’s push is gaining traction. With strict conditions, the Act will permit an annual 240-day stay. While his focus is understandably on what’s good for his home state of Florida, the bonus stay-time that’s a key part of the legislation which he introduced will also significantly impact such other popular snowbird destinations as Texas, Arizona and California. One pro-Canadian catch is that Bill 2507, already referred to as the “Snowbird Visa,” will allow the extra stay time for only Canadian snowbirds, and it is worded with strict conditions to permit Canadians 50+ to live in the U.S. for up to eight months per year with three key stipulations: a) they have a home in Canada and own or lease a long-term residence in the U.S.; b) waive all rights to American welfare or public assistance funds; and, c) have no U.S. employment. Some Washington insiders are wary about smooth sailing of Rubio’s pro-Canadian legislation. Current hurdles are the Biden administration’s busy agenda, the contentious chin-wagging, elbow bending and debates and voting on trillions of dollars. Another speed bump is Washington’s notorious hypersensitivity about anything to do with the topic of immigration. Rubio acknowledges possibly choppy waters and says that he is ready and prepared to debate. He is focused and determined and, every chance he gets, underscores that the Act is carefully worded to satisfy even immigration-prickly critics. “It strictly spells out that snowbirds cannot take American jobs, earn money, or in any way benefit from American social services.” He emphatically points out that, “the Snowbird Visa is all about tourism, not employment or business.” When passed and enacted − and the Canadian snowbird stay is bumped from the current 182 to 240 days − the primary impact will still be on moneys owing to the IRS. Under current American tax law, Canadians are permitted to be tax-free in the U.S. for up to sixmonths each year. Snowbirds who stay for longer than six months in a calendar year are considered U.S. residents for IRS tax purposes and are required to pay U.S. federal income taxes on all earned income, including pensions, regardless of the country in which the moneys are earned. With the passage of Rubio’s Bill 2507, the IRS tax-free period will be bumped to eight months, or 240 days. As Rubio explains, the Washington process, much like the Ottawa process, is tangled with protocols, formalities and officialdom, such as legislation getting assigned to a committee for study, put on a calendar, debated or amended, voted on and finally passed by a simple majority. As the Snowbird Visa momentumhas begun, Marco Rubio is revved and confident that it’s a win-win for the U.S. economy as well as for Canadian snowbirds, enjoying 30% more quality time with sun, golf, palm trees and the beach. SnowbirdProfile CSANews | FALL 2021 | 17
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